Andre
Ward proved to the world that he is not only the best light
heavyweight in the world, but also the No.1 pound-for-pound boxer
when he stopped rival Sergey
Kovalev in the eighth round in Las Vegas.

Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) fought tooth and nail with his Russian
counterpart as they connected with powerful punches to the head and
waged a war of attrition on the inside. Each round in the duel was
as close as they come as Kovalev was largely the aggressor behind
his jab while Ward landed scattered blows between constant
clinching. Ward’s style frustrated “Krusher” early and often,
reducing him to being able to land only single blows for much of
the contest and slowly depleting his gas tank.

With both men lumped up around the eyes in the eighth, Kovalev
appeared to be coming on in the second half of the fight. But a
wicked right hook to the stomach hurt Kovalev, who unsuccessfully
protested to referee Tony Weeks that it was low. While still
grimacing from the gut shot, Kovalev tried in vain to keep Ward
away, but “SOG” drilled the former world champion with a murderous
right to the jaw, a punch that would have flattened a lesser
man.

Kovalev (30-2, 25 KOs) stumbled around on rubbery legs as Ward gave
chase. Kovalev tried to tie the American up, but Ward was
relentless, slamming punches to the head and body. When Kovalev
backed into the ropes, Ward landed a left uppercut that appeared
low. “Krusher” covered up and slumped over, but two more punches
came from Ward and they both were on the border. Kovalev doubled
over in an effort to sway Weeks into calling a halt for illegal
punches, but the veteran third man deemed them legal and decided to
waive off the fight, much to Kovalev’s dismay.

The end officially came at 2:29 of the eighth allowing Ward to
retain his IBF, WBA and WBO light heavyweight world titles at
Mandalay Bay Events Center. Kovalev said afterward that he wants an
immediate rematch because the punches were low. Ward, meanwhile,
didn’t rule out a third bout with his rival, but intimated that he
is thinking about moving up to cruiserweight and possibly
heavyweight.